Hello from Naples!
Last month we once again had the pleasure of attending the USA Today Naples Food & Wine Experience at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex. It continues to be one of our favorite local events. Dozens of area restaurants and beverage purveyors participate, offering small bites and tastings that make it easy to discover new places without having to trek all over town. This event remains a highlight of the season and an experience we always enjoy sharing with our friends.
The month also brought plenty of moments that reminded us how much we have to appreciate—supportive family and friends, good health, meaningful work, and the privilege of calling this beautiful community home. Riley returned from college for a short visit, and on Thanksgiving we joined our longtime family friends, Mr. and Mrs. Poor, for the exceptional holiday buffet at Royal Poinciana Golf and Country Club. It is a tradition we cherish, gathering with several generations to reconnect and share the day. Although Natalie wasn’t able to travel home this year, she was warmly hosted by her boyfriend’s family in Denver, which gave us comfort. She actually had her Thanksgiving dinner at the Fire Station where her boyfriend’s brother-in-law works. We are eagerly awaiting having both kids home soon for the holidays. We hope your Thanksgiving was equally special and wish you a joyful and festive holiday season ahead.
Here is an excerpt of a recent article from Florida Weekly: Veteran housing announced in Collier County
Warrior Homes of Collier announced an upcoming 10-unit apartment building to house 20 veterans within the next several months.
The quest to end veteran homelessness in Collier County was a step closer with this announcement made at the nonprofit’s recent Hope & Honor Gala on Nov. 7.
Calling it the Zulu Project, Warrior Homes, along with the support of the PulteGroup of Southwest Florida, the nation’s third-largest home builder, will undertake a nearly $3 million project to purchase and renovate the building. Expected to begin by mid-December, the renovations should take approximately three to six months.
“We are thrilled to be able to launch this project for homeless veterans here in Collier County,” said Dale Mullin, a retired Vietnam veteran, founder and president of Warrior Homes of Collier. “Our goal starting six years ago was to end veteran homelessness in Collier County. With the assistance of our supporters on the Zulu Project we see that goal being reached in 2026.”
The Zulu Project is the final piece to reaching Functional-Zero status for veteran homelessness in Collier County. Functional-Zero means no veteran is homeless unless by choice. As of the start of 2025, a monthly average of 10 homeless veterans remained in Collier County, a major reduction from 97 since 2019.
The announcement took place at the organization’s annual gala, which this year featured U.S. Marine Corps LtGen (Ret.) John F. Sattler as its first-time distinguished guest speaker. The event raised $1.2 million for Warrior Homes of Collier.
Ending veteran homelessness in Collier County will be a major milestone, as only 85 other communities in the entire nation, including two counties in the northeast section of Florida, have done so, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Once complete, all units in the building will have new kitchens, flooring, furniture, appliances and fresh coats of paint; plus, the entire property will be landscaped.
Warrior Homes of Collier currently operates six Naples residences for local veterans: Alpha House, a short-term, transitional home for those in recovery from substance-use issues; Delta House, a long-term supportive housing complex with 10 apartments for up to 20 veterans; as well as Bravo, Charlie, Echo and Foxtrot Houses. Warrior Homes has housed 142 veterans since initiating this program.
In addition to temporary housing solutions, Warrior Homes connects veterans with support services like mental health counseling, peer support as well as educational opportunities that offer college scholarships. The organization also helps veterans at risk of losing their homes or falling behind on essential bills by offering monetary assistance. Last year, over 12,000 veterans and their families benefited from their program support.
Official November 2025 Climate Data at Naples Airport:
November in Naples arrived with a decidedly dry personality—only 0.12 inches of rain, even less than last year’s already skimpy half-inch. Temperatures eased back a bit too, with highs topping out at 87° and lows dipping to 44°, which actually set a new record for the month! It felt like the first real taste of our “fall,” Naples-style: crisp mornings, warm afternoons, and beautiful blue skies. A quiet, easy month weather-wise which was perfect for outdoor plans and holiday events.
Book Review: “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell (spoiler alert)
I knew the Hamnet movie was coming out soon so I decided to read the book first. I picked up this novel expecting a historical portrait of Shakespeare’s family, but what I found was something far more intimate, a story about grief, marriage, identity, and the ways love both anchors and undoes us. What amazed me was how O’Farrell takes a sliver of recorded history (the death of Shakespeare’s young son, Hamnet) and breathes into it a world that is incredibly textured and emotionally alive.
The protagonist, Agnes emerges as the novel’s true center. She’s not Shakespeare’s wife as we’ve been taught to imagine her; she’s earthy, intuitive, perceptive in ways that unsettle those around her. O’Farrell gives her a kind of quiet power that stays with you. Watching her navigate the unbearable loss of a child feels almost too close at times, yet the writing holds you with such grace that you’re willing to stay with her in it.
The novel moves back and forth in time, weaving their courtship with the years leading up to Hamnet’s death, and the structure makes the final convergence all the more devastating. The novel’s power is in the details, the tender observations, the small domestic moments that reveal everything about who these people were to each other. And while Shakespeare himself remains somewhat in the background, his absence becomes its own character in the story, a reminder of how ambition and family love can coexist in complicated, sometimes painful ways.
If your reading tastes run toward stories that sit with the complexities of being human…our resilience, our wounds, our capacity to keep loving even when the world breaks open then I think you would enjoy Hamnet.
Here are a couple reviews on Amazon for Hamnet:
“This book wrecked me in the best way. Maggie O’Farrell’s writing is breathtaking — poetic without being pretentious — and the way she brings 16th-century Stratford to life is pure magic. The story of Hamnet and his mother feels intimate, human, and painfully real. You don’t need to be a Shakespeare nerd to feel this one in your bones. It’s grief, love, and art all tangled together — a book that lingers long after the last page. Five stars, no notes… just feelings.”
“WOW!! This was some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I’m still at a loss on how to describe how incredible this book is. The story is heartbreaking so know that going in. But it was just perfect! This was a perfect book!”
“Hauntingly beautiful rendition of historical fiction of The Bard's life and family. Read this six months ago - it still sticks with me.”
Restaurant Recommendation: The Oyster Society 599 S Collier Blvd. Marco Island
Last month, one of Jeff’s old college friends came for a visit to SWFL, staying in Marco Island. We made the drive down to visit with him and his wife. We met at The Oyster Society; a polished, seafood-forward restaurant on Marco Island. The atmosphere was quite lively and we enjoyed dining outside on the patio. Their raw bar is the star attraction so if you love oysters this is a place worth checking out. During our visit we sampled four different varieties of oysters, each beautifully presented, impeccably fresh, and distinctly flavorful. We also enjoyed very attentive service throughout the evening, with a staff that was knowledgeable, accommodating, and perfectly paced. For our entrees we tried their Lobster Thermidor and Crispy Rice & Sesame Encrusted Tuna. We both enjoyed the Tuna more than the Lobster. Overall we thought the restaurant was probably excellent for Marco Island but not as good as some of our favorite Naples seafood restaurants.
Here are a few recent reviews on Open Table:
“Always a great meal with excellent service! Sushi was amazing and the specials were great!”
“Took my mother-in-law here for her Birthday and she was treated like a queen - great food and beautiful atmosphere - all staff was very kind and accommodating.”
“Oyster Society is one of my five favorite restaurants to eat. First of all, the food is fabulous. Cooked perfectly and beautifully presented. The service is excellent and the vibe of the restaurant adds to the ambiance. Whenever we visit Marco Island, we make sure to visit Oyster Society.”
Naples Real Estate: Here are the November 2025 Naples & Bonita Springs market statistics.
For the first eleven months of 2025, there were 9,292 closed sales in Naples and Bonita Springs, virtually the same number of sales that we experienced during the same period last year. It is interesting to note that at the extreme low level and high levels, sales experienced year over year growth. In the middle price ranges, sales were down from 2024.
The following table offers a snapshot comparison of sales activity through November 2025 versus last year:
As the following table shows, the level of inventory varies by price point:
Overall inventory in November remained unchanged from October’s 8-month supply. Traditionally many sellers delay listing their homes for sale over the holidays so we anticipate the supply of homes to increase in January as new sellers join the sellers who failed to sell their homes in 2025. Inventory is especially elevated in the luxury segment, where homes priced over $3 million now represent a 14-month supply. The broader trend suggests that while buyers are enjoying more choices, sellers may need to remain flexible with pricing and expectations as the market continues to balance.
Riverstone Real Estate:
Riverstone is the community where Jeff and Nicola live. Riverstone has numerous amenities available for residents to enjoy. You can spend days swimming and relaxing at the community resort-style pool, playing tennis, taking a fitness class or socializing in the community’s private clubhouse. Here’s a look at the MLS market in Riverstone as of December 6, 2025:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 16 active listings, 1 pending sale and 3 sales pending with contingencies. The MLS system lists 43 homes sold in the last 12 months. With average monthly sales at 3.58 per month, there is 4.5 months of inventory at Riverstone.
Stonecreek Real Estate:
Stonecreek is the sister community to Riverstone, about a mile up Logan Blvd. and was built by the same developer, GL Homes. Both communities offer social, vacation-inspired lifestyles with extensive amenities & A-rated schools. Stonecreek is a bit newer and home prices in this community tend to be a bit higher than Riverstone. Here’s a look at the MLS market in Stonecreek as of December 6, 2025:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 18 active listings, 3 pending sales and 1 sale pending with contingencies. The MLS system lists 32 homes sold in the last 12 months. With average monthly sales at 2.67 per month, there is 6.74 months of inventory at Stonecreek.
Valencia Trails Real Estate:
Valencia Trails is the active, adult community about 5 miles east on Immokalee Road from Riverstone and was built by the same developer, GL Homes. As a 55+ lifestyle community, Valencia Trails offers even more amenities than Riverstone and Stonecreek including a 43,00 SF clubhouse, that includes a theater for live performances, a spa, a restaurant and pool bar. The fitness facilities and calendar of events are extensive. Here’s a look at the MLS market in Valencia Trails as of December 6, 2025:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 23 active listings and 2 sales pending with contingencies. The MLS system lists 47 homes sold in the last 12 months; however, this number includes many new construction and builder spec homes.
Give us a call if we can help with any real estate questions you have at 239-451-9351.
